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My First Crash: Jason Plato

It was the 1980s. I was 19 and living at home in Suffolk, working for my dad’s insurance company. I’d persuaded him to buy me a brand new Lancia Integrale in exchange for a pay cut. I’d had it for about three weeks. It was gorgeous.

One evening I arrived home and couldn’t find Mum or Dad anywhere. I was wandering around the house calling them. Then I put my head around their bedroom door. It was a truly awful moment. I caught my mum and dad in a very embarrassing position. I had to get out of the house. So I took the Lancia for a spin.

I was into karting at the time and my confidence in my own ability was high. I was driving a bit too fast down these country lanes. Coming up to a bend, I saw a car approaching but realised too late it